Classroom Norms
The video above explains the importance of creating a positive classroom culture. This video shows how creating a classroom pledge together can keep students accountable for the rest of the year. Students contributed to the creation of the pledge and were able bring in their ideas of what they thought was important. The positive classroom culture allows students to learn in an environment that promotes learning. This is an example of a collection of norms that was created in a student centered collaboration.
I will also create a classroom pledge with my own students to create a positive classroom culture.
- Normalize error
- Teaching students that it's okay to try and that you will learn more if your fail often
- Make the students accountable for their behavior
- Show students that each of them are important in establishing an effective class culture
- The classroom pledge is what the students use a measure for their behavior during the rest of the year
- Have the students talk to each other about their behavior so that the students can see how their behavior is affecting the rest of the class
I will also create a classroom pledge with my own students to create a positive classroom culture.
This video provided explanations of how to form effective classroom spaces by allowing students to come up with a classroom contract. This related directly to my groups collaboration when we discussed allowing students come up with ideas. Although we may have ideas of what we want out classroom to look like, allowing students to express their own ideas creates ownership!
- Take time in the beginning of the year to create the routine so that it will make the classroom more effective for the rest of the year
- Correct behavior in a positive way (frequently)
- I liked how she asked the students to rate how they're feeling today and selected some students to explain why they feel that way. This allows the teacher to see how they are feeling.
- I also liked how they greeted each other in the circle which allows students to create a sense of community.
- Blue tape around the desk- allows the students to realign their desk quickly when the desks are moved for group work and etc.
Introducing Norms
At the beginning of the school year it will be very important to describe the classroom norms to the students. This can be done by creating a class accepted list of norms that all students agree to follow. Through positive reinforcement by the teacher the students will be able to recognize acceptable behavior.
I also found this blog that provided printable rules and gestures that went along with the rule. I thought that this was a very good idea that helps students understand the rules. The post explained that this could be incorporated into the morning meeting where as a class we can go over the rules and gestures that go along with it.
Here are the gestures that she explained:
Rule #1: Listen (point to your ears) when your teacher (kids point to me) is talking (move hands together and apart like a mouth).
Rule #2: Follow directions quickly. (As we say this, we snap out fingers along with each word and say the rule quickly.)
Rule #3: Respect others (point out), respect yourself (point to yourself), and respect your school(point to the ground).
Rule #4: Raise your hand (raise your right hand) to speak (make moving mouth motion) or stand use index and middle finger to 'walk').
Rule #5: Be safe (hug yourself), be kind (cover your heart with both hands), be honest (place right hand up, like you were about to testify).
I believe that by using these simple strategies classroom norms will be followed faster and more effectively.
I also found this blog that provided printable rules and gestures that went along with the rule. I thought that this was a very good idea that helps students understand the rules. The post explained that this could be incorporated into the morning meeting where as a class we can go over the rules and gestures that go along with it.
Here are the gestures that she explained:
Rule #1: Listen (point to your ears) when your teacher (kids point to me) is talking (move hands together and apart like a mouth).
Rule #2: Follow directions quickly. (As we say this, we snap out fingers along with each word and say the rule quickly.)
Rule #3: Respect others (point out), respect yourself (point to yourself), and respect your school(point to the ground).
Rule #4: Raise your hand (raise your right hand) to speak (make moving mouth motion) or stand use index and middle finger to 'walk').
Rule #5: Be safe (hug yourself), be kind (cover your heart with both hands), be honest (place right hand up, like you were about to testify).
I believe that by using these simple strategies classroom norms will be followed faster and more effectively.
Group Collaboration on Classroom Norms
List of Classroom Rules
Ideas:
Examples will be given and acted out on what is good and bad.
- Be productive
- Be responsible
- Be positive
- Be prepared
- My actions my consequences
Ideas:
- Students can generate expectations for me, their teacher just as I will generate expectations of the them.
- There will be a concrete set of rules before the first day and the classroom will provide examples of the established rules together as an activity. This way, the students will be more likely to follow the rules since they are helping make them. The rebellion will less likely come out since they are helping and essentially not being “told what to do”.
- The chart of rules will be hung in the classroom so that every student can see it at all times.
- These will help establish the classroom environment to make more involvement in the classroom. The norms are being made together as a class letting the students be interactive with each other and involved in the rule making process.
Examples will be given and acted out on what is good and bad.
- Respect examples:
- Raising your hand
- Helping each other
- No name calling
- Keep your hands to yourselves
- Treat others as you want to be treated
- Say please and thank you
- Walking feet inside
- Indoor voices
- Listening quietly while others are speaking
- Pay attention
Reinforcing Behavior
This teacher explains how she uses a Classroom Economy to reinforce behavior. Each student has a notepad that is their individual "bank account", throughout the day they can earn bonuses to earn more money.
Some examples of the items in the classroom store include:
I like that this example incorporated a classroom store. This reinforcement of behavior will make students more accountable for their behavior. They will be motivated to gain more money in order to obtain the different rewards that are offered.
- each student has a number so that names are not listed on the board
- students can spend their money at the classroom store
- practice how to add money
Some examples of the items in the classroom store include:
- erasers
- glue stick
- dry erase markers
- computer time
- white board time
- homework pass
- lunch with a teacher
I like that this example incorporated a classroom store. This reinforcement of behavior will make students more accountable for their behavior. They will be motivated to gain more money in order to obtain the different rewards that are offered.